This is precisely how a documentary about the American Civil War should look. Adrian Moat's Gettysburg, a mixed documentary/"docudrama" produced for The History Channel by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, uses Gettysburg intensely as a contextualized microcosm of the entire war. It's a truly stellar production, fast-paced yet well-detailed, wisely sampling the vast 1863 battle through several compelling points of view without trying to be exhaustive or romanticizing.
Not only is Gettysburg unflinching in its tight closeup direction: it furthermore takes the time to delve cyclically and efficiently into period technology (including both small arms weapons, artillery, communications and the raw state of medical treatment and painkillers); the paramount stakes of the war for African Americans in particular; underlying issues of socio-economic class, ideology and motivation in the soldiery; women during the war; and the primal brutality of battlefield conditions. Wow: impressive. Should appeal to anyone even slightly interested in history, war or life on this planet. Caveat: scenes of gory carnage. Given it's the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, Gettysbug will be re-aired several times.
Today's Rune: Breakthrough.
11 comments:
I wanted to watch this but just too many things going on. It looked tremendous though.
War is part of a human life on this planet, there are many reasons to start or finish it, but the price is one-human sacrifices. There is no glory in war, the glory is in the lives that chose to or were chosen, to feed the Beast.
While the basic information was somewhat accurate, the uniforms, tactics, and delivery of the message was horrible. This docu-whatever was a virtual slap in the face to any serious Civil War historian. Filmed in South Africa folks...
Charles, you'll probably dig it, though without ads would be better.
Nina, right on. The Greek gods scheme seems as good as any for a metaphorical framework.
Anon, I disagree wholeheartedly. I think the critical distance of British producers gave a fresh perspective, regardless of filming location.
Sounds great. Definatly something my brother would love. He loves watching docs on wars and other aspects of history.
Yes. Adrian Moat's Gettysburg.
I am finally realizing how great documentaries are made--not from whole cloth, is seems, but from great books about the defining events.
Ridley Scott is new to me.
I have been viewing Ken Burns' The Civil War on PBS, which he bases, I suppose, on the long and fascinating Civil War tome by Shelby Foote.
You not only feel the weight of the cataclysmic events in Footes' prose, but get direct examples of the book's The text in the series, with copius quotes from Foote himself.
Foote is not footling. He has been called ther Homer of the American Civil War.
I am moved to search out the book, all one thousand pages of it!
I will try to find Gettysburg on my limited -channel TV here in Canada.
Fitting blog on Memorial Day.
Erik, ummmmmm, gory carnage? Shudder. I still haven't made it thru the opening of 'Saving Private Ryan' and I am a Tom Hanks fan! Guess I'm more suited to 'Forrest Gump'!
War is horrible no doubt. The docudrama was well done and accurate. No matter where it was filmed, the message is that men are willing to die for causes they believe in, die becuause they have to follow orders, die because, well just because.
The only place I saw the picture of the American Civil war was in the movie Gone with the Wind.
Cheers all, thanks, and huzzah! Shelby Foote has a great persona, I drove him from RDU airport to Chapel Hill in the early 80s; quite a character.
Ridley Scott is my personal fave when it comes to atmosphere. Just fantastic!
Post a Comment